Monday, July 4, 2016

Graceland Arboretum, An Uptown Oasis

If you're looking for something to do that's close to home, peaceful, and free, we recommend a trip to Graceland, at Irving Park and Clark.

It's well-known as an historic site where prominent Chicagoans are buried, but many neighbors don't know it was classified as an official arboretum a couple years ago. There are more than 2,000 trees in Graceland, and over 50 different species. Even if you don't know red oak from Red Bull, it's a beautiful place to walk and see the sights, all 119 acres of it.

Graceland is open during the summer from 8am to 6pm (weekends 9am-4:30pm). The office is open weekdays until 5pm and Saturdays until 3pm (closed Independence Day and Sundays). You can get tour maps from the office and online. The Tree Tour map is here and the historic tour map is here.

Click to enlarge the photos to see them in more detail.

The figure Memory overlooks the Marshall Field family plot.It was designed by Daniel Chester French and Henry Bacon, who also created the Lincoln Memorial.

The bridge to the island in Lake Windermere, where thefamily of the great Daniel Burnham are buried.